Food Finder YYC

BRANDING, WEBSITE & SMS CHAT BOT DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT

Connecting Youth with Nearby Food Sources

Throughout the school year, thousands of Calgary kids receive food from organizations and programs dedicated to reducing hunger in the city. We worked with organizations dedicated to increasing food security for youth to develop a solution to get nutritious food into the hands of youth once they are out of school for the summer. Food Finder YYC is a web and SMS service that connects youth with nearby food resources.

The primary goal is to empower kids by providing them opportunities to gain access to nutritious food while they are out of school for the summer.

Background

Food insecurity is a problem for thousands of kids in all quadrants and communities throughout Calgary. During the school year, there are several accessible options to get a healthy lunch into the hands of kids who may not otherwise have access to proper nutrition. Unfortunately once the school year ends, many of those most vulnerable are left without access to nutritious food.

A group of organizations dedicated to increasing food security in Calgary has come together to collaborate on Food Finder YYC. Food Finder YYC is a pilot project running throughout the summer of 2017. The primary goal is to empower kids by providing them opportunities to gain access to nutritious food while they are out of school for the summer.

Challenges & Approach

When youth are all together at schools, it’s much easier for charitable organizations to get a nutritious lunch into their hands. Once the summer arrives and many of these vulnerable youth are on their own, they may not be aware of the options that are available for them to get food.

Implementing new technology into any organization can be a struggle, but when an organization is heavily carried by volunteers and most resources go directly towards impacting people’s lives, it can be very difficult to allocate funds for technology. When choosing technology to implement into charitable organizations, it is important to be certain that the technology chosen is both accessible and user-friendly to maximize effectiveness and reach.

We proposed a location-based solution would be most effective, informing youth of the closest accessible resources available. However, an app or GPS focused program was not an option since it would limit the use to those with access to a smartphone or mobile data plan. Instead, we opted for both a web application and an SMS chat bot. The web application is available through the Food Finder YYC website while the chatbot can be accessed by texting “Food” to 587-318-0232.

In addition to ensuring that the technology chosen was accessible to youth, it was also crucial that the information provided be presented in a way that was easy to act upon. We used filters to allow kids to select whether they are looking for a specific meal, a snack, or a food hamper (available only if they have ID or referrals) up to two days in advance. The website also provides the kids with any specific instructions they may need once they reach their destination, such as which entrance to use, if a waiver is required, or even what to say once they arrive.